Mariner High senior getting ready for yard sale

Student effort benefits Candlelighters of Southwest Florida

October 17, 2011

A Mariner High School senior will hold his second yard sale next month in Cape Coral to benefit Candlelighters of Southwest Florida.

Last year the yard sale raised $2,345 for Candlelighters, which was more than Mariner senior Tyler Young's goal of $1,000.

"It worked out really well last year," he said about the money raised.

Klair Snellbaker, executive director and founder of Candlelighters of Southwest Florida Inc., said the organization has been in the community for 28 years.

"Like all non-profits right now, we are trying to keep our programs going and the funds we raise back to the families," she said.

The money that Young was able to raise last year, Snellbaker said, helped the organization fund some of its programs, along with purchasing T-shirts and hats for the kids. She said the organization was able to take more children to some of the ticketed events because they were able to purchase more tickets for children who were interested in going.

Fact Box

To go

Who: Tyler Young

What: Yard sale to benefit

Candlelighters

When: Nov. 25-26, from

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: 5336 S.W. 11th

Place, Cape Coral

To donate: 239-471-8702

or email tyler@young-

selectric.biz.

"We are very happy that he is working with us again," Snellbaker said about Young. "He has a lot of energy and he does a good job."

The organization provides a break to those fighting cancer and their families.

"We give them a break from the medical side of dealing with cancer," she said.

The organization is helping more than 450 families across the five-county area who are at different stages of fighting cancer.

Young said he wants to hold an annual yard sale to benefit the Candlelighters because it is for a really good cause.

"It's pretty neat to be able to help out in such a massive way," he said.

Young got a jump start on the sale this year and began picking up donations in July. He said he is already out of space for furniture.

"I am collecting a lot of stuff so far," he said. "The more the better."

Household items will be collected by volunteers for the yard sale until Nov. 19. Individuals who want to donate items can call Young at 239-471-8702 or email him at tyler@youngselectric.biz.

A bake sale will also be held again during the yard sale. Young said last year he had 10 pies and sold everyone.

"I was very impressed," he said.

This year the bake sale will feature Bianca De Sanctis, who recently opened her own cupcake business in Cape Coral. Young said she is donating 75 cupcakes for the sale.

"It will be a larger bake sale than last year, which is exciting," Young said.

This year, Young hopes to raise $2,000 for the non-profit organization.

The yard sale will be held on Nov. 25-26 at 5336 S.W. 11th Place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The items that are not sold during the yard sale will be donated to the Cultural Park Theatre for its yard sale on March 10-11 to raise funds for the theater's scholarship fund.